Measuring Quality for People with Complex Needs

It’s not an understatement to say the work we do at NCQA impacts health care and—at some point—people’s lives. For those of us who are older or who need specialized care, NCQA is developing a way to measure the quality of that care.

Measuring Quality for People with Complex Needs

Measuring Quality for People with Complex Needs

It begins with understanding priorities. Doctors ask their patients—specifically, older adults with functional limitations and complex health issues—what’s most important to them. For the most part, the answers are general: “I want to live in my home and be able to spend time with my grandchildren.” Occasionally, they’re specific: “I want to be able to walk to the grocery store down the street.”

Person-Driven Outcomes

But no matter the answer, people’s priorities and health goals should guide their care.

Cindy is Senior Communications Manager at NCQA. Her focus is building consumer awareness through media and public relations. A communications and public engagement strategist with a background steeped in TV news reporting, Cindy is also part of NCQA’s Creative Services unit developing messaging through visual storytelling.

Additionally, we are working on toolkits that providers can use to engage older adults in a discussion about goals and use these goals to develop a plan of care, we look forward to sharing those tools later this year.